Chamber keen for bigger Pilbara defence presence

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) says it believes there is only a limited defence presence available to protect infrastructure in the Pilbara.

Senate committee members will visit Karratha on Sunday as part of an inquiry into the significance of the Indian Ocean rim to Australia's foreign affairs, defence and trade arrangements.

It is understood the senators will privately meet representatives of resources companies and community leaders.

The chamber's Warren Pearce says the CME hopes the inquiry leads to a greater defence presence in the region, which is generating billion of dollars in export revenue.

"We certainly would support an increased role for defence there, whether that takes the form of Australian Defence Force or federal police or state police," he said.

"There's certainly a lot of agencies that could be used or increase their presence in that area to support ... [that] very vital economic and strategic infrastructure.

"It's very important there is appropriate protection for strategic and economic infrastructure, it's extremely valuable, it generates billions of dollars in revenue, not just for the companies but also in royalties to the state and in taxation to the Federal Government.

"So it's very, very important that the infrastructure is protected and the supply chain for export is protected as well."